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Bad Day Begging

I stopped at the store tonight after work to get some groceries we were running low on. I wish it were the steak I was buying, but that was last summer. There was young man maybe 25 years old leaning on the trunk of his car next to where I parked.

I am out of my truck, in front of his car, he is standing on the side between his car and the next one down. Here comes the pitch…

Don’t you get tired of professional beggars?

Young Man, “Hey Mister?” He steps out.

Me, “Yeh”

Young Man, “Do you have any money you can spare”

Me, “Look at your t-shirt, mine is three years old, yours looks pretty new? Look at your pants, they are in good shape too.

See my pants down here (pointing) where they are frayed at the heels? If I take my belt off, my pants will fall down because they don’t fit me any more.

Your shoes look fairly new, less than three months old I am guessing? My shoes are three years old now, and they make my feet hurt. See where the black color has worn off the seams, and the white leather shows through?

Look at your car, I think it is a mid-nineties model? See my truck? It has been hit a few times. Not worth too much. It’s a ’98.

So, how much money have you been given so far? I think you should share with me? It looks like I need it more than you. Everything you have here, is better than mine. Yet your begging me for money?”

Young Man, “Aw, F* you!”

He walks to the door of his car and gets in. When I come out about fifteen minutes later he is gone, or at least not parked next to me.